U.S. patent application number 13/586332 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-01 for secondary battery.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Yong-Kyun PARK. Invention is credited to Yong-Kyun PARK.
Application Number | 20130196194 13/586332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46832243 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130196194 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Yong-Kyun |
August 1, 2013 |
SECONDARY BATTERY
Abstract
A secondary battery that includes at least two electrode
assemblies positioned in parallel and having a space between the
electrode assemblies. Further, the secondary battery includes at
least two electrode tabs contained within the at least two
electrode assemblies. A battery case is provided having at least
one accommodating portion containing the at least two electrode
assemblies.
Inventors: |
PARK; Yong-Kyun; (Yongin-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PARK; Yong-Kyun |
Yongin-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
Yongin-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
46832243 |
Appl. No.: |
13/586332 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61592873 |
Jan 31, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/72 ; 429/129;
429/149 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 2/021 20130101;
H01M 10/0463 20130101; H01M 10/0431 20130101; Y02E 60/10 20130101;
H01M 2/0207 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
429/72 ; 429/149;
429/129 |
International
Class: |
H01M 4/64 20060101
H01M004/64; H01M 2/36 20060101 H01M002/36; H01M 2/14 20060101
H01M002/14 |
Claims
1. A secondary battery, comprising: at least two electrode
assemblies positioned in parallel and having a space between the
electrode assemblies; at least two electrode tabs contained within
the at least two electrode assemblies, and a battery case having at
least one accommodating portion containing the at least two
electrode assemblies.
2. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein said electrode
tabs exit a first of the at least two electrode assemblies and
enter a second of the at least two electrode assemblies, the
electrode tabs extend through the second of the at least two
electrode assemblies and exit the battery case.
3. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, further comprising: a
spacer contained within said space between the electrode
assemblies.
4. The secondary battery recited in claim 3, wherein said spacer
contains at least two mounting portions accommodating said
electrode tabs on at least one surface of said spacer.
5. The secondary battery recited in claim 3, wherein said spacer
contains at least two mounting portions accommodating said
electrode tabs in an interior of said spacer.
6. The secondary battery recited in claim 5, wherein said at least
two mounting portions comprise at least one orifice in the
spacer.
7. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, said at least one
accommodating portion of the battery case, further comprises: a
first accommodating portion containing a first of the at least two
electrode assemblies; and a second accommodating portion containing
a second of the at least two electrode assemblies, wherein the
first and second accommodating portions are separated from each
other via sealing portions within the battery case.
8. The secondary battery recited in claim 7, wherein the first
accommodating portion has approximately a size and shape of the
first electrode assembly and a second accommodating portion has
approximately the size and shape of the second electrode
assembly.
9. The secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the electrode tabs
extend through longitudinally opposite sides of the battery case
and through both of the two electrode assemblies disposed between
the longitudinally opposite sides.
10. The secondary battery recited in claim 7, a spacer contained
within said space between the electrode assemblies.
11. The secondary battery recited in claim 7, further comprising:
an electrolyte storage portion located between the first and the
second accommodating portions.
12. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, wherein the battery
case further comprises: a cover; a main body; and a sealing portion
formed by sealing at least a portion of the cover and at least a
portion of the main body, wherein the cover and main body have
affixed an electrolyte injection portion for injection of
electrolyte into the battery case.
13. The secondary battery recited in claim 12, wherein said
electrolyte injection portion is connected to the space between the
electrode assemblies.
14. The secondary battery recited in claim 1, further comprising: a
safety member provided in the battery case positioned to correspond
to the space.
15. The secondary battery recited in claim 12, wherein said
electrolyte injection portion comprises the sealing portion.
16. The secondary battery recited in claim 10, wherein said spacer
contains at least two mounting portions on at least one surface of
said spacer accommodating said electrode tabs.
17. The secondary battery recited in claim 10, wherein said at
least two mounting portions comprise at least one orifice in the
spacer.
18. The secondary battery recited in claim 16, wherein said at
least two mounting portions having a same shape as each of the
electrode tabs.
19. The secondary battery recited in claim 4, wherein said at least
two mounting portions having a same shape as each of the electrode
tabs.
20. The secondary battery recited in claim 11, wherein said
electrolyte storage portion contains electrolyte.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of
Provisional Application No. 61/592,873, filed on 31 Jan. 2012, in
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the entire content
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a secondary
battery.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, secondary batteries are used to supply energy to
portable electronic devices. As the electronic devices are
developed, the secondary batteries require high capacity and high
efficiency.
[0006] The above information disclosed in this Related Art section
is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the
invention and therefore it may contain information that does not
form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary
skill in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Embodiments provide a secondary battery having improved
energy efficiency by being manufactured to have a new
structure.
[0008] Embodiments also provide a secondary battery having improved
process efficiency by simplifying a manufacturing process thereof.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a secondary
battery is provided having at least two electrode assemblies
positioned in parallel and having a space between the electrode
assemblies; at least two electrode tabs contained within the at
least two electrode assemblies, and a battery case having at least
one accommodating portion containing the at least two electrode
assemblies.
[0009] The secondary battery may include the electrode tabs exit a
first of the at least two electrode assemblies and enter a second
of the at least two electrode assemblies, the electrode tabs may
extend through the second of the at least two electrode assemblies
and exit the battery case.
[0010] The secondary battery may further include a spacer contained
within the space between the electrode assemblies.
[0011] The secondary battery may further have the spacer containing
at least two mounting portions accommodating the electrode tabs on
at least one surface of the spacer.
[0012] The secondary battery may further have the spacer containing
at least two mounting portions accommodating said electrode tabs in
an interior of the spacer.
[0013] The secondary battery may further have the at least two
mounting portions include at least one orifice in the spacer.
[0014] The secondary battery may further have the at least one
accommodating portion of the battery case, including: a first
accommodating portion containing a first of the at least two
electrode assemblies; and a second accommodating portion containing
a second of the at least two electrode assemblies. The first and
second accommodating portions may be separated from each other via
sealing portions within the battery case.
[0015] The secondary battery may further have the first
accommodating portion has approximately a size and shape of the
first electrode assembly and a second accommodating portion has
approximately the size and shape of the second electrode
assembly.
[0016] The secondary battery may further have the electrode tabs
extend through longitudinally opposite sides of the battery case
and through both of the two electrode assemblies disposed between
the longitudinally opposite sides.
[0017] The secondary battery may further include an electrolyte
storage portion located between the first and the second
accommodating portions.
[0018] The secondary battery may further have the battery case
further including: a cover; a main body; and a sealing portion
formed by sealing at least a portion of the cover and at least a
portion of the main body. The cover and main body may have affixed
an electrolyte injection portion for injection of electrolyte into
the battery case.
[0019] The secondary battery may further have the electrolyte
injection portion connected to the space between the first and the
second of the electrode assemblies.
[0020] The secondary battery may further include a safety member
provided in the battery case positioned to correspond to the
space.
[0021] The secondary battery may further have the electrolyte
injection portion include the sealing portion.
[0022] The secondary battery may further have the spacer containing
at least two mounting portions on at least one surface of the
spacer accommodating the electrode tabs.
[0023] The secondary battery may further have the at least two
mounting portions include at least one orifice in the spacer.
[0024] The secondary battery may further have the at least two
mounting portions having a same shape as each of the electrode
tabs.
[0025] The secondary battery may further have the electrolyte
storage portion containing electrolyte.
[0026] As described above, according to the present invention, it
is possible to provide a secondary battery having improved energy
efficiency by being manufactured to have a new structure.
[0027] Further, it is possible to provide a secondary battery
having improved process efficiency by simplifying a manufacturing
process thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of
the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the
same or similar components, wherein:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a secondary battery
according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the secondary
battery of FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-IA of the
secondary battery of FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a secondary
battery according to another aspect of the embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 1 of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a spacer
of FIG. 4.
[0034] FIG. 5B is a front view of the spacer of FIG. 5A.
[0035] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
spacer.
[0036] FIG. 6B is a front view the spacer of FIG. 6A.
[0037] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a secondary
battery according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the secondary battery of FIG.
7.
[0039] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a secondary battery
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 9B is an exploded perspective view of the secondary
battery of FIG. 9A.
[0041] FIG. 9C is an exploded perspective view of the secondary
battery of FIG. 9A that includes a spacer.
[0042] FIG. 9D is an exploded perspective view of the secondary
battery of FIG. 9A that includes a spacer.
[0043] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of the
secondary battery of FIG. 9A.
[0044] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a secondary battery
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of the
secondary battery of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0046] In the following detailed description, only certain
exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and
described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the
art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in
various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or
scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and
description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not
restrictive. In addition, when an element is referred to as being
"on" another element, it can be directly on the another element or
be indirectly on the another element with one or more intervening
elements interposed therebetween. Also, when an element is referred
to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly
connected to another element or be indirectly connected to the
another element with one or more intervening elements interposed
therebetween. Alternatively, when an element is referred to as
being "directly on" another element, there are no intervening
elements present. Hereinafter, like reference numerals refer to
like elements.
[0047] Recognizing that sizes and thicknesses of constituent
members shown in the accompanying drawings are arbitrarily given
for better understanding and ease of description, the present
invention is not limited to the illustrated sizes and
thicknesses.
In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions,
etc., are exaggerated for clarity. In order to clarify the present
invention, elements extrinsic to the description are omitted from
the details of this description.
[0048] In several exemplary embodiments, constituent elements
having the same configuration are representatively described in a
first exemplary embodiment by using the same reference numeral and
only constituent elements other than the constituent elements
described in the first exemplary embodiment will be described in
other embodiments.
[0049] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0050] In general, the external appearance of a secondary battery
may be variously modified depending on an electronic device
employing the secondary battery. As electronic devices such as a
smart phone have recently been developed, a secondary battery is
frequently used, which has double width and long length rather than
thin thickness.
[0051] However, it is difficult to manufacture the secondary
battery having double width and long length. In addition, the path
along which electricity flows in the secondary battery is extended,
and therefore, the efficiency of energy consumption is
decreased.
[0052] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a secondary battery
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is
an exploded perspective view of the secondary battery of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of the secondary
battery of FIG. 1.
[0053] The secondary battery 100 according to this embodiment
includes an electrolyte; two or more electrode assemblies 10 each
having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate opposite
to the first electrode plate, and a separator interposed between
the first and second electrode plates; and a battery case 110 in
which the electrolyte and the electrode assemblies are
accommodated. In the battery case 110, neighboring electrode
assemblies 110 may be provided in parallel with each other.
[0054] The electrode assembly 10 may have first and second
electrode plates having different polarities from each other, and a
separator. For example, the first electrode plate may be a positive
electrode plate formed by coating a positive electrode active
material including lithium on a base plate, and the second
electrode plate may be a negative electrode plate formed by coating
a negative electrode active material including carbon on a base
plate. The separator may be interposed between the first and second
electrode plates so as to prevent the first and second electrode
plates from contacting directly with each other. The separator may
include a plurality of pores that constitute a path of ions or the
electrolyte.
[0055] The electrolyte may be accommodated together with the
electrode assemblies 10 in the battery case 110. In this case, the
electrolyte facilitates the movement of current between the first
and second electrode plates. For example, the electrolyte may
include a lithium salt acting as a supply source of lithium ions
and a non-aqueous organic solvent acting as a medium through which
ions participating in an electrochemical reaction can move.
[0056] The battery case 110 may include a pouch composed of a main
body 111 and a cover 112. Here, the main body has an accommodating
portion 111a that is a space for accommodating the electrode
assemblies 10 and the electrolyte. The accommodating portion 111a
in the main body 111 accommodates the electrode assemblies 10 and
the electrolyte, and the main body 111 may be sealed with the cover
112 so as to prevent the electrode assemblies 10 and the
electrolyte from being separated therefrom. In this case, sealing
portions 113 may be provided at edges of the main body 111 and the
cover 112, corresponding to each other. The sealing portions 113
are thermally bonded in the state in which the main body 111 and
the cover 112 are adhered closely to each other.
[0057] Generally, the external appearance of a secondary battery
used as a power source of an electronic device may be determined
according to the external appearance of the electronic device.
Recently, a demand on secondary batteries each having double width
and long length has been increased. A secondary battery having
double width and long length is light in weight and small in size.
On the other hand, the secondary battery is rapidly deteriorated,
and therefore, the lifespan of the secondary battery is reduced.
Specifically, it is not easy to perform a reversible
electrochemical reaction between an electrode assembly and an
electrolyte, which enables the reversible use of the secondary
battery. Therefore, this results in the deterioration of the
secondary battery. The electrode assembly manufactured to have
double width and long length has a low permeation property of the
electrolyte, and a part into which the electrolyte is permeated
occurs in a partial section of the electrode assembly. Therefore,
the movement of electrons or ions is unbalanced, which results in a
side reaction. As a result, the secondary battery is
deteriorated.
[0058] Embodiments of the present invention provide a secondary
battery in which the permeation property of an electrolyte with an
electrode assembly, so that it is possible to prevent the
deterioration of the secondary battery and to increase the lifespan
of the secondary battery. In the secondary battery, having double
width and long length, there is no region in which the electrolyte
is not permeated into the electrode assembly. Thus, a side reaction
does not occur, and the secondary battery can be efficiently
used.
[0059] The electrode assembly 10 may include first and second
electrode assemblies 10a and 10b, and the first and second
electrode assemblies 10a and 10b may be provided in parallel with
each other in the battery case 110. The first and second electrode
assemblies 10a and 10b. The first and second electrode assemblies
10a and 10b are provided adjacent to each other while being spaced
apart from each other, and a space portion 11 may be provided
between the first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b. The
space portion 11 may be connected to an electrolyte injection
portion 140, and a safety member 150 may be further provided to the
battery case 110.
[0060] The safety member 150 may be provided to at least one of the
main body 111 and cover 112 of the battery case 110. For example,
the safety member 150 may include a vent for exhausting gas when
the internal pressure of the secondary battery 100 may be a
predetermined value or more. The safety member 150 prevents the
secondary battery 100 from being exploded due to a sudden increase
of the internal pressure, or the like, so that it is possible to
improve the safety of the secondary battery 100.
[0061] The electrolyte injection portion 140 may be connected to an
edge of the battery case 100 so as to act as a path along which the
electrolyte may be injected into the battery case 110. Since the
electrolyte injection portion 140 is a part used to inject the
electrolyte into the battery case 110, the electrolyte injection
portion 140 may be provided at a central part of the battery case
110. The electrolyte injection portion 140 may be removed after the
electrolyte may be injected into the battery case 110 there
through. Since the electrolyte injection portion 140 is provided to
injection the electrolyte into the battery case 110 therethrough,
the electrolyte injection portion 140 may be provided in various
shapes.
[0062] The electrolyte injection portion 140 may be connected to
the space portion 11 between the first and second electrode
assemblies 10a and 10b. The electrolyte may be injected into the
battery case 110 through the electrolyte injection portion 140 and
then divided to both sides in the space portion 11. Thus, the
electrolyte can be permeated into the first and second electrode
assemblies 10a and 10b. Since the electrolyte is efficiently
permeated into the first and second electrode assemblies 10a and
10b, there exists no region in which the electrolyte is not
permeated into the first and second electrode assemblies 10a and
10b. The surplus of electrolyte remaining after being permeated
into the first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b may be
provided in the space portion 11 between the first and second
electrode assemblies 10a and 10b. The electrolyte provided in the
space portion 11 may be supplied to the first and second electrode
assemblies 10a and 10b when the electrolyte is exhausted by a
plurality of charging/discharging operations of the secondary
battery 100, and thus the lifespan of the secondary battery can be
improved.
[0063] The electrode assembly 10 may include a first electrode tab
120 provided to the first electrode plate and a second electrode
tab 130 provided to the second electrode plate. The first and
second electrode tabs 120 and 130 may be protruded to the outside
of the battery case 110. For example, the first and second
electrode assemblies 10a and 10b are provided with first and second
electrode tabs 120 and 130, and the electrode tabs 120 and 130 may
be extended from the second electrode assembly 10b so as to be
protruded to the outside of the battery case 110 via the first
electrode assembly 10a. The first and second electrode tabs 120 and
130 act as a path of current (or electrons) generated in the first
and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b. In this case, the
first and second electrode tabs 120 and 130 may be sequentially
divided into first to fourth portions 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d, 130a,
130b, 130c and 130d, respectively. The first portions 120a and 130a
of the first and second electrode tabs 120 and 130 are connected to
the first and second electrode plates of the second electrode
assembly 10b. The second portions 120b and 130b of the first and
second electrode tabs 120 and 130 are extracted to the outside of
the second electrode assembly 10b so as to correspond to the space
portion 11 between the first and second electrode assemblies 10a
and 10b. The third portions 120c and 130c of the first and second
electrode tabs 120 and 130 are connected to the first and second
electrode plates of the first electrode assembly 10a, and the
fourth portions 120d and 130d of the first and second electrode
tabs 120 and 130 are extracted from the first electrode assembly
10a so as to be exposed to the outside of the battery case 110. For
example, the first and second electrode tabs 120 and 130 may be
positive and negative electrode tabs, respectively. The first and
second electrode tabs 120 and 130 can electrically connect the
first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b spaced apart from
each other.
[0064] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a secondary
battery according to another aspect of the first embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an embodiment
of a spacer of FIG. 4. FIG. 5B is a front view of the spacer of
FIG. 5A. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
spacer. FIG. 6B is a front view of the spacer of FIG. 6A.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6B, alternatively, the secondary
battery 200 may further include at least one spacer 250a. The
spacer 250a may be provided between the first and second electrode
assemblies 10a and 10b, and first and second electrode-tab mounting
portions 251 on which first and second electrode tabs 220 and 230
are mounted, respectively, may be provided to the spacer 250a. The
first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b are accommodated
in parallel in an accommodating portion 211a of a main body 211 of
a battery case 210 and then sealed by a cover 212 of the battery
case 210. Second portions 220b and 230b of the first and second
electrode tabs 220 and 230 may be positioned in the space portion
11 between the first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b.
In this case, an electrolyte injection portion 240 may be provided
at an edge of the battery case 210 so as to correspond to the space
portion 11, and fourth portions 220d and 230d of the first and
second electrode tabs 220 and 230 are protruded to the outside of
the battery case 210.
[0066] Although the spacer 250a shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is used in
the secondary battery of FIG. 4, a spacer 250b shown in FIGS. 6A
and 6B may be used in the secondary battery of FIG. 4. Hereinafter,
the spacer 250a shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is referred to as a first
spacer 250a, and the spacer 250b shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is
referred to as a second spacer 250b.
[0067] The first or second spacer 250a or 250b may be provided
between the first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b. In
this case, the first or second spacer 250a or 250b may be a part
that comes in contact with the second portions 220b and 230b of the
first and second electrode tabs 220 and 230, and first or second
electrode-tab mounting portions 251 or 252 through which the second
portions 220b and 230b of the first and second electrode tabs 220
and 230 pass, respectively, may be provided to the first or second
spacer 250a or 250b. For example, the first or second electrode-tab
mounting portion 251 or 252 may be provided to have a step
difference or may be provided in the shape of a through-hole.
[0068] The spacer 250a or 250b may be made of an insulating
material so as to be provided in the space portion 11 between the
first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b. Thus, the spacer
250a or 250b insulates between the first and second electrode
assemblies 10a and 10b, so that it is possible to prevent the risk
of a short circuit, or the like. Further, since the spacer 250a or
250b enables the first and second electrode tabs 220 and 230 to be
firmly fixed by supporting the first and second electrode tabs 220
and 230, current can smoothly flow through the first and second
electrode tabs 220 and 230.
[0069] Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will
be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12. Components in these
embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12 are similar
to those in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to
6B, and therefore, their detailed descriptions will be omitted.
[0070] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a secondary
battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the secondary battery of FIG. 7.
[0071] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in the secondary battery 300
according to this embodiment, a battery case 310 may include one or
more accommodating portions 311a and 311b provided to correspond to
the shape of the electrode assembly 10. The accommodating portions
311a and 311b are provided to a main body 311 so as to respectively
accommodate the first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b.
The accommodating portions 311a and 311b include first and second
accommodating portions 311a and 311b. The first and second
accommodating portions 311a and 311b are spaced apart from each
other, and may be provided to respectively correspond to the sizes
of the first and second electrode assemblies 10a and 10b.
[0072] External sealing portions 313a are respectively provided at
edges of the main body 311 and a cover 312 in the battery case 310
so as to seal the battery case 310. In this case, an internal
sealing portion 313b may be provided between the first and second
accommodating portions 311a and 311b, and thus the first and second
accommodating portions 311a and 311b can be spaced apart from each
other by the internal sealing portion 313b.
[0073] An electrolyte injection portion 340 may be provided in
parallel with the internal sealing portion 313b at an outside of
the battery case 310. The secondary battery 300 may be sealed by
thermally bonding the external sealing portions 313a except the
part connected to the electrolyte injection portion 340, and an
electrolyte may be then injected into the battery case 310 through
the electrolyte injection portion 340. Subsequently, the internal
sealing portion 313b is sealed, thereby manufacturing the secondary
battery 300.
[0074] The battery case 310 according to this embodiment may be
composed of the plurality of accommodating portions 311a and 311b
provided to correspond to the size of the electrode assembly 10, so
that the electrode assembly 10 can be stably fixed in the battery
case 310. Thus, the electrode assembly 10 may be stably fixed
without moving due to an external impact such as a vibration or
drop, thereby preventing an electrical short circuit, or the like.
Further, the internal sealing portion 313b may be further provided
between the first and second accommodating portions 311a and 311b,
thereby improving the sealing performance of the secondary battery
300.
[0075] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a secondary battery
according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9B
is an exploded perspective view of the secondary battery of FIG.
9A. FIG. 9C is an exploded perspective view of the secondary
battery of FIG. 9A that includes a spacer 420c. FIG. 9D is an
exploded perspective view of the secondary battery of FIG. 9A that
includes a spacer 420c. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along
line II-II of the secondary battery of FIG. 9A.
[0076] Referring to FIGS. 9A to 10, the secondary battery 400
according to this embodiment may include a pair of first and second
electrode tabs 420a and 430a protruded from one end 410a of a
battery case 410, and a pair of first and second electrode tabs
420b and 430b protruded from the other end 410b opposite to the one
end 410a of the battery case 410. First and second electrode
assemblies 20a and 20b may be arranged in parallel while being
spaced apart from each other with a space portion 21 interposed
therebetween in the battery case 410.
[0077] First and second electrode tabs 420 and 430 may be provided
to the first and second electrode assemblies 20a and 20b. The first
and second electrode tabs 420 and 430 may be provided to connect
the first and second electrode assemblies 20a and 20b to each
other. The first and second electrode tabs 420 and 430 may include
first portions 420a and 430a extracted from one end of the first
electrode assembly 20a, second portions 420b and 430b extracted
from the other end of the second electrode assembly 20b so as to
face the opposite direction to the first portions 420a and 430a,
and third portions 420c and 430c provided to correct the first and
second electrode assemblies 20a and 20b, respectively. The third
portions 420c and 430c of the first and second electrode tabs 420
and 430 may be provided to pass through the space portion 21 of the
battery case 410.
[0078] The battery case 410 may include an electrolyte injection
portion 440 provided in parallel with the space portion 21. An
electrolyte may be injected into the battery case 410 through the
electrolyte injection portion 440 so as to be uniformly spread in
the battery case 410. The electrolyte is uniformly permeated into
the first and second electrode assemblies 20a and 20b. The
secondary battery 400 according to this embodiment is provided with
a plurality of first and second electrode tabs 420a, 420b, 430a and
430b, so that it is possible to perform charging/discharging
operations at a high rate and to efficiently use the secondary
battery 400.
[0079] Referring to FIGS. 9C and 9D, alternatively, the secondary
battery 400 may further include at least one spacer 250a. The
spacer 250a may be provided between the first and second electrode
assemblies 20a and 20b. The spacer 250a illustrated in FIG. 9C is
identical to that illustrated and previously discussed in reference
to FIGS. 5A and 5B and will not be discussed in further detail
here. The spacer 250a illustrated in FIG. 9D is identical to that
illustrated and previously discussed in reference to FIGS. 6A and
6B and will not be discussed in further detail here.
[0080] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a secondary battery
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12
is a sectional view taken along line III-III of the secondary
battery of FIG. 11.
[0081] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, in the secondary battery 500
according to this embodiment, a battery case 510 may further
include an electrolyte storage portion 560 in which an electrolyte
30 may be stored between the first and second electrode assemblies
20a and 20b. An electrolyte injection portion 540 may be provided
to the battery case 510 so as to be connected to the electrolyte
storage portion 560. Pairs of first and second electrode tabs 520a,
520b, 530a and 530 may be extracted from one and the other ends
510a and 510b of the battery case 510, respectively.
[0082] As a secondary battery is charged and discharged several
times, the electrolyte is exhausted by side reactions, and
therefore, the lifespan of the secondary battery is decreased. On
the other hand, in the secondary battery 500 according to this
embodiment, surplus electrolyte 30 may be stored in the electrolyte
storage portion 560. Thus, the secondary battery 500 in which the
electrolyte is exhausted due to its use for a certain period of
time can use the electrolyte stored in the electrolyte storage
portion 560 for the purpose of supplement, thereby increasing the
lifespan of the secondary battery 500.
[0083] The electrolyte storage portion 560 may be provided using a
process such as deep drawing. In the battery case 510, one or more
internal sealing portions 513b may be provided between the
electrolyte storage portion 560 and first and second accommodating
portions 511a and 511b for respectively accommodating the first and
second electrode assemblies 20a and 20b therein. The internal
sealing portions 513b are sealed, for example, by thermal bonding.
In this case, the first and second electrode tabs 520c and 530c for
connecting the first and second electrode assemblies 20a and 20b to
each other are provided to pass through the internal sealing
portions 513b and then thermally bonded.
[0084] The internal sealing portion 513b allows spaces between the
electrolyte storage portion 560 and the first and second
accommodating portions 511a and 511b to be sufficiently bonded, but
the degree of bonding in the internal sealing portion 513b may be
changed depending on a position. A structural step difference may
be formed by the difference in thickness between the first and
second electrode tabs 520c and 530c in the internal sealing portion
513b, and the step difference acts as interference in the bonding
of the internal sealing portion 513b. Therefore, the degree of
sealing of the parts through which the first and second electrode
tabs 520c and 530c respectively pass in the internal sealing
portion 513b may be relatively lowered as compared with the part
through which the first and second electrode tabs 520c and 530c do
not pass. When it is necessary to supplement electrolyte due to the
exhaustion of the electrolyte as the secondary battery 500 may be
used, a partial leak of the internal sealing portion 513b may be
induced by applying a slight physical force to the electrolyte
storage portion 560 of the secondary battery 500. That is, the leak
is relatively easily produced at the parts through which the first
and second electrode tabs 520c and 530c respectively pass in the
internal sealing portion 513b. The leak acts as a path of the
electrolyte 30, and thus the electrolyte 30 flows in the first and
second accommodating portions 511a and 511b, thereby supplementing
the electrolyte.
[0085] While the present invention has been described in connection
with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, hut, on the
contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims, and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *